Holder for defect cards



July 19, 1955 H. M. THOMAS 2,713,368

HOLDER FOR DEFECT CARDS Filed March 50, 1953 FIG /& L I

4 Y /a E INVENTOR. m 1 2 9 HARRY M. moms ATTORNEYS United States Patent HOLDER FOR DEFECT CARDS Harry M. Thomas, Piedmont, Calif.

Application March 30, 1953, Serial No. 345,351

8 Claims. (Cl. 1500.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders for defect cards for railway equipment and the like. It is customary for railway employees to note upon cards defects in the rolling equipment. At the present time such cards are either tacked to boards mounted on the car body or placed in a metal or plastic box similarly mounted on the car. An important disadvantage of tacking the cards to a board lies in the danger of the card being detached. Similarly, the notations thereon may become illegible upon exposure to the weather.

Another means for containing defect cards which is in use at the present time is the provision of metal or plastic containers which are screwed, nailed or otherwise afiixed to the sides or some other convenient portion of the car. Various means are employed to cover such containers. One cover employs a spring to bias the same to closed position. Springs break resulting in improper seating of the cover and consequent damage or loss of the card contained in the box. Another means of attachment of the cover is by the use of a pivoted cover on a round metal container. deforms the cards in that they must be rolled to fit into the container. The container is also likely to be bent or torn in use. All of the prior metal and plastic devices are subject to breakage and/or deformation and consequently service and replacement of such containers is a serious problem.

The present invention provides a flexible pouch which is attached to the side of the car body in which defect cards may be inserted and removed as required. The pouch is provided with a cover which seals the interior from the weather, but which may be rapidly opened and closed to insert the cards and remove the same and to inspect to see whether a defect card has been placed in the holder. The holder, hereinafter described in detail, provides a means for protecting the. defect cards from exposure to weather and whereby they may be rapidly inserted and removed as required.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a relatively thin, elongated, container which is adapted for convenient attachment to the side or other part of a railroad car, the holder being open at one end and closed by a replaceable hinged cover which fits down over the upper edges of the body and is provided with sealing means which prevents moisture from entering the interior of the holder. Desirably, the pouch and its cover are formed of flexible rubber which facilitates flexing of the cover and enables the person inserting or removing the cards to reach the interior with facility.

A principal advantage of the instant invention is the provision of a container for cards which is dry at all times, thus maintaining the cards in good condition. Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that a minimum of servicing is required inasmuch as the container or holder is not readily damaged by reason of its flexible nature and flat shape. The holder is not readily crushed as when a truck backs against the freight car during loading or unloading. The freedom-from damage The use of a round container 1 2,713,368 Patented July 19, 1955 by crushing results from the shape of the container and the rubber material utilized.

Another advantage of the invention is the fact that the cover is easily replaced independently of the body. Still another advantage resides in the fact that whereas metal boxes may become inoperative in freezing weather, any ice which forms on the instant holder may be readily displaced by flexing the cover.

The instant invention is rust-proof and will not corrode.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view, partially broken away in section, showing the defect card holder.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the ice ; line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse horizontal section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse horizontal section taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the completed defect card holder.

The defect card holder is formed of two pieces, a body 10 and a cover 11 therefor. The body comprises an elongated, thin, generally rectangular pouch. The body is formed of a single piece of rubber having spaced front 12 and back 13, bottom 14 and side portions 16. The length of the body 10 is substantially equal to the length of a defect card so that when the card is resting on the bottom of the pouch, its top is approximately level with the top edge of the pouch so that its presence inside the body may be readily detected. Further, to facilitate detecting the presence of a card within the body and withdrawing the same, a semi-circular finger hole 17 is cut in the top of the front portion 12. The depth of.

"ill

the body is sufiicient to enable a workman to insert his fingers to insert or remove cards.

To facilitate attachment of the body to the side of a car, the back 13 of the body projects laterally outward beyond the sides thereof thus exposing a narrow web 18 .along each side of the holder. The web is provided with apertures at top and bottom through which bushings 19 are inserted with a pressed fit, nails or screws (not shown) passing through the bushings in order to afiix the body to the side of the car on which it is installed. Further, to prevent wear of the body, transversely extending braces 21 may be imbedded in the back of the body extending across the body and apertured at either end to receive bushings 19. Desirably a hole and bushing 19 is positioned at each upper and lower corner. The thickness of the back 13 diminishes from top to bottom in a uniform taper so that the top of the body extends out further than the bottom. The purpose of this construction is to facilitate opening of the cover 11, as hereinafter appears.

The body 10 is open at the top and the top edges 26 are slanted downwardly, forwardly to facilitate insertion of defect cards in the body. The top is closed by a cover 11 which fits across the top edges 26 and down over the upper parts of the front 12 and rear 13 and sides 16. The preferred manner of connection between the cover and body is by rabbeting a groove 27 in the top rear edge of back 13, the back 28 of the cover fitting in and filling the rabbet 29. Since webs 18 of the back 13 extend out laterally beyond the sides 31, the cover is similarly formed with a laterally projecting rear web 29. The holes and bushings 19 in the upper corners of the body fit through apertures in cover Webs 29 and thus the same nails or screws which attach the body to the car likewise attach the cover. If it is necessary to replace a cover 11 which has been damaged, then the top corner screws or nails are removed, the new cover installed, and the fastening means replaced. This construction facilitates replacement of covers as required.

Desirably the cover 11 is formed of a flexible material, such as flexible rubber. In order to eliminate the necessity of hinges, the cover is made self-hinging by reason of its flexible nature and by reason of the upper corner being cut away or relieved, as indicated by reference numeral 32. To facilitate lifting of the cover, a downwardly extending tab 33 is provided on the lower front edge, said tab likewise providing an additional closure for the hole 17 cut in the upper edge of the front of the body. By comparison of Figs. 2 and 3 it may be seen how the cover provides its own hinge. By reason of the taper of back 13 of body, the cover may be lifted to completely open position. It will be noted that when the cover is in closed position as indicated in Pig. 3, the top 34 slopes downwardly at the same angle as the top of the body and thus sheds moisture.

In order to seal the cover and body against entrance of moisture, the body is molded with a projecting halfround ridge 36 extending around the side and front adjacent the top. A corresponding groove 37 is formed at the same level in the inner face of the side and front of the cover so that when the cover is closed, the ridge 36 fits within the groove 37 and forms a water-tight seal.

As a further seal, the rear edge of the cover is likewise formed with a ridge 38 which fits into a vertical groove in the front face of the webs 18. Thus, the cover is sealed to the body throughout when in closed position and the interior of the body is protected.

In use, the body and cover are assembled in position, the bushings 19 at the top corners being of sufficient length to project through both the body 10 and the cover 11. Suitable fastening means are passed through the four holes at each corner of the holder and fastened to a suitable portion of the car body in which the holder is to be installed. This holder may be placed in either vertical or horizontal position. It will further be seen that the fastening means passes through the bushings 19, which likewise pass through the holes in the reinforcing means 21 imbedded in the body of the holder.

After installation, when it is desired to use the holder, the employee who wishes to note a defect on a card lifts the cover 11 by raising the tab 33 on the front edge thereof, the cover flexing adjacent its rear top corner where it is relieved by grooves 32, thereby providing access to the interior. If the cover has frozen to the body, the ice may readily be broken by reason of the flexible nature of the rubber body and cover. After the card has been inserted, the cover is closed, the ridges 36 fitting within the grooves 37 so as to form a water-tight seal. When the car reaches a repair yard, the cover may be lifted momentarily to determine whether a defect card is within the interior, and if such a card is detected it may be removed for inspection.

In order to seal the hole in the sheet-metal side of a car body through which the screw or other fastening means employed to attach the card holder projects, a sealing means may be employed. Thus as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, bushings 19 may be formed shorter than the thickness of the rubber material through which they extend by about 1, inch. Back 13 and webs 29 are formed with an integral closure 41. When the holder is being attached to the side of the car body, the point of the screw or other fastening means employed pierces closure 41 and the rubber material seals around the fastening means. The rubber around the fastening means prevents moisture from entering the interior of the car body through the hole formed by the fastening means. It also eliminates electrolytic action which might take place were a brass bushing 19 to contact a steel car body.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the claims'appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A defect card container comprising an elongated, thin body open at the top and a cover for the open top of said body, said cover being formed of flexible material and extending from the back of said body over the top and down around the side and front upper edges of said body, said cover being hinged along the top back edge thereof to provide a hinge facilitating flexing of said cover from open to closed position.

2. A defect card container comprising an elongated, thin body open at the top, said body being rabbeted along the top edge of the back, and a cover for the open top of said body, said cover extending into the rabbct in the back top edge of said body and extending up over the open top of said body and down on the sides and front thereof, said cover being formed of a flexible material, said cover being hinged along the top back edge thereof.

3. A defect card container comprising an elongated, thin body open at the top, said body being rabbeted along the top edge of the back, and a cover for the open top of said body, said cover extending into the rabbct in the back top edge of the body and extending up over the open top of the body and down on the sides and front thereof, said cover being formed of a flexible material and hinged along the top back edge thereof to provide a hinge facilitating flexing of said cover from open to closed position, said cover and body being formed with cooperating grooves and ridges sealing said container against ingress of moisture when said cover is in closed position.

4. A defect card container comprising an elongated, thin body open at the top, said body being rabbeted along the top edge of the back, and a cover for the open top of said body, said cover extending into the rabbct in the back top edge of the body and extending up over the open top of the body and down on the sides and front thereof, said cover being formed of a flexible material and weakened structurally along the top back edge thereof to provide a hinge permitting flexing of said cover from open to closed position, the interior of said body bci'g substantially of equal distance between front and back walls from top to bottom thereof, said body being formed with the back thereof thicker at the top than at the bottom said back tapering outwardly toward the top so that when said body is mounted with its back against a fli t surface said body tilts forwardly.

5. A defect card container comprising an clon -tied. thin body open at the top, said body being rec the top edge of the back, and a cover for the of said body, said cover extending into the the back top edge of the body and extending 1 the open top of the body and down on the sides and nt thereof, said cover being formed of a flexible mat and weakened structurally along the top back edge ther to provide a hinge permitting flexing of said cover from open to closed position, said body being formed with laterally extending webs apertured adjacent the cor thereof for the reception of fastening means, said being formed with laterally extending webs un of: said webs of said body adjacent the top edge thereof and being apertured in registry with the apertures in the top corners of said webs of said body so that the same fastening means may pass through the apertures in the v at the top of said body and through the apertnrm webs of said cover.

6. A defect card container comprising an elongated, thin body open at the top, said body being recessed along the top edge of the back, and a cover for the open top of said body, said cover extending into the recess in the back top edge of said body and extending up over the top of the body and down on the sides and front thereof, said cover being formed of a flexible material and Weakened structurally along the top back edge thereof to provide a hinge permitting flexing of said cover from open to closed position, said body being formed with laterally extending webs apertured adjacent the corners thereof for the reception of fastening means, said cover being formed with laterally extending Webs underlying said webs of said body adjacent the top edge thereof and being apertured in registry with the apertures in the top corners of said webs of said body so that the same fastening means passes through the apertures in the webs at the top of said body and through the apertures in the webs of said cover, and reinforcing means imbedded in said back of said body and extending laterally into said webs of said body, said reinforcing means being apertured in registry with the apertures of said webs.

7. A defect card container comprising an elongated, thin body open at the top, said body being recessed along the top edge of the back, and a cover for the open top of said body, said cover extending into the recess in the back top edge of said body and extending up over the top of the body and down on the sides and front thereof, said cover being formed of a flexible material and weakened structurally along the top back edge thereof to provide a hinge permitting flexing of said cover from open to closed position, said cover and body being formed with cooperating grooves and ridges sealing said container against ingress of moisture when said cover is in closed position, said body being formed with the back thereof thicker at the top than at the bottom, said back tapering outwardly toward the top so that when said body is mounted with its back against a flat surface said body tilts forwardly, said body being formed With laterally extending webs apertured adjacent the corners thereof for the reception of fastening means, said cover being formed with laterally extending webs underlying said Webs of said body adjacent the top edge thereof and being apertured in registry with the apertures in the top corners of said webs of said body so that the same fastening means passes through the apertures in the webs at the top of said body and through the apertures in the webs of said cover, and reinforcing means imbedded in said back of said body and extending laterally into said webs of said body, said reinforcing means being apertured in registry with the apertures of said webs.

8. A defect card container comprising an elongated, thin body open at the top, said body being recessed along the top edge of the back, and a cover for the open top of said body, said cover extending into the recess in the back top edge of the body and extending up over the open top of the body and down on the sides and front thereof, said cover being formed of a flexible material and weakened structurally along the top back edge thereof to provide a hinge permitting flexing of said cover from open to closed position, said body being formed with laterally extending webs apertured adjacent the corners thereof for the reception of fastening means, said cover being formed with laterally extending webs underlying said webs of said body adjacent the top edge thereof and being apertured in registry with the apertures in the top corners of said webs of said body so that the same fastening means may pass through the apertures in the webs at the top of said body and through the apertures in the Webs of said cover, the rearward ends of said apertures in said webs in the lower portion of said body and in said webs of said cover being closed with penetrable closures integral with said webs capable of being pierced by fastening means, and bushings positioned in said apertures in front of said closures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlT ED STATES PATENTS 557,461 Welander Mar. 31, 1896 639,832 Shearman Dec. 26, 1899 2,303,733 Freeman Dec. 1, 1942 2,483,304 Vogel Sept. 27, 1949 2,534,989 Radde Dec. 19, 1950 2,571,144 Lobl Oct. 16, 1951 

